A member of the Council of State for the Ashanti Region, Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, has criticised comments made by Sam Pyne about Frank Amoakohene, describing them as politically misguided and dismissive of tangible development efforts in the region.

In a strongly worded statement, Mr. Obimpeh said he felt compelled to respond despite the restraint typically associated with his role, citing his responsibility to the Ashanti community. He took issue with Mr. Pyne’s reported description of Dr. Amoakohene as a “TikTok minister,” arguing that such characterisation undermines modern governance practices.

According to him, leadership today requires visibility, accessibility and active engagement with citizens, noting that public relevance often reflects impact rather than inefficiency. He suggested that the level of attention surrounding Dr. Amoakohene contradicts claims that he is ineffective.

Mr. Obimpeh pointed to what he described as measurable progress under Dr. Amoakohene’s leadership, including ongoing work on the Aputuogya 24-hour market, the Sewia Hospital and the Afari Military Hospital, as well as the redevelopment of the Krofrom Market. He also highlighted improvements to key bridges such as Mpasaso, Kotokuom and Jacobu, alongside road and drainage projects in areas including Kaase and Ahodwo.

He further praised what he termed innovative governance approaches, citing an initiative involving Senior High School students in beautifying major interchanges across the Ashanti Region at minimal cost to the state. He contrasted this with previous beautification efforts in Accra, which he claimed involved significantly higher expenditure.

The Council of State member also drew comparisons with the tenure of Mr. Pyne at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, alleging that it was marked by stalled projects and administrative challenges. He extended similar criticism to Simon Osei Mensah, former Ashanti Regional Minister, citing limited visibility and a lack of clearly defined transformative projects during his time in office.

Addressing recent allegations of misconduct involving Dr. Amoakohene, Mr. Obimpeh called for caution, urging that such matters be handled through appropriate institutional processes rather than public debate.

He concluded by urging Mr. Pyne to focus on performance-based comparisons rather than personal criticism, stressing that the people of the Ashanti Region expect leadership grounded in results, unity and development.